RP opens up SEAG campaign with a bang in water polo
By Josef Ramos

Games Today
Trace Aquatic Center
4pm Indonesia vs Vietnam
5:15 Malaysia vs Vietnam
6:30 Philippine vs Singapore

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna- The Philippines tasted victory even before the 23rd Southeast Asian Games could formally start as the water polo team turned back Indonesia, 15-10, Monday in what could be an indication of things to come for the host in the biennial conclave that opens Sunday.

The Filipinos relied on the gritty heroics of the Alamara brothers, Ali and Norton, to finally subdue the Indons and give the country its first win in the aquatics event at the Trace college Aquatics center here.

Defending champion Singapore opened its title-retention bid on a high note by thrashing Malaysia, 21-3 while powerhouse Thailand outplayed Vietnam, 7-5 in the other contests.

With the hosts ahead by only one at the start of the final frame, Ali, a center forward, sank a goal in the last 5:37 while Norton delivered with 4:34 left to help stretch the Filipinos' lead to 12-8.

Although the Indons managed to score two goals after that courtesy of Henrian Saragih and Hendri Maciano, it was clear from there that the locals had the game wrapped up with heads up play in the stretch.

Long time national Coach Reynaldo Galang attributed the victory to the strong fighting spirit of his wards for the breakaway win.

"We just studied well our offensive pattern and worked on our defense perfectly," said Galang, "I also credit the team's endurance and stamina. It helped us to overcome our opponent's physical game.

Center forward Monsuito Pelenio scored the Philippines ' first three goals as the hosts moved ahead, 3-2 with 2:12 left.

The Philippines, which was goof for only one bronze medal in the Vietnam games two years ago, battles defending champion Singapore Tuesday.

Pre-games? I thought the opening would be on the 27th?

There are some sports events that are already being played even before the opening starts!

Try to go to the Rizal Park by sunday November 27,2005 for the colorful opening ceremonies of the 23rd SEA Games!

Support Filipino athletes!

GO THAILAND! MAY THE ELEPHANT VICTOR AGAINST OUR FOES!

Good Luck - WOW Philippines!
To all ASEAN members "Mabuhay , Welcome, Huan Ying , Selamat Datang, Sabbaidee , Sawasdee to all!

Cheers to you as well!

My cheers will always be the Philippines!
Including Carlene Ang Aguilar for Miss World!!!!!! Itodo na ang mga powers natin!!!!!

Heartbreak of a loss for RP water polo squad

Games Today
4 p.m. -- Vietnam vs Malaysia
5:15 p.m.-- Singapore vs Indonesia
6:30 p.m. -- Thailand vs Philippines

STANDINGS
Singapore 2-0, Philippines 1-1, Thailand 1-1, Vietnam 1-1, Malaysia 1-1, Indonesia 0-2

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Buoyed up by its opening day win over Indonesia the day before, the Philippines pushed defending champion Singapore to the limit before absorbing a heartbreaking 6-7 defeat in water polo action Tuesday at the Trace Aquatics Center here.

It took a conversion by Terence Tan in the final 1:30 to decide the outcome of the close contest which saw the Filipinos holding their opponents to a see-saw battle, and matching the Singaporeans' intensity in both offense and defense.

The game entered the final one and a half minute with the scored knotted at 6-all following a penalty goal by Monsuito Pelenio.

“This maybe the year for Philippine water polo.We gave Singapore hell in the pool today. It was neck and neck, but clearly this is the first time we've matched Singapore pass for pass, block for block, and goal for goal. We've never come this close,” said PASA president Mark Joseph.

Tan finished with 3 points, including 2 in the final frame to lead Singapore to its second win in as many games.

Pelenio, Sherwin dela Paz, Ricardo Dilapdilap, Michael Jorolan, and brothers Norton and Frazier Alamara each had a goal for the Philippines.

Earlier, Malaysia downed Thailand, 7-4, while Vietnam edged Indonesia , 13-12. The results created a 4-way log-jam for the second spot among Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

The Malaysians rebounded from a 21-3 whipping it took from the Singaporeans in their opening assignment, while the Thais failed to follow up their 7-5 conquest of the Vietnamese.

Vietnam bounced back from its heartbreaking loss to Thailand the other day by edging out Indonesia , 13-12, in the first game.

The Vietnamese try to make it two in row when they meet Malaysia in Wednesday's tripleheader opener. Indonesia on the other hand will be hard-pressed to win against defending champion Singapore in their 5:15 p.m. encounter to avoid early elimination.

Tournament format calls for teams to play each other in a single round robin with the team that ends up with most wins capturing the gold. (GL)

Our elephant-eating eagle will eat you. J/K. Good luck to Thailand, anyway.

monkey eating eagles freak the $hit out of me >__>

lol, hahaha

Good Luck to the Philippines!!!!!

Luckily , I will be cheering all the Philippine contingent on sunday~!

Go Philippines! You may watch the live telecast in channel 4, ABC channel 5 and IBC channel 13 . Go to Luneta and cheer our Filipino athletes

just in: Filipinos sink Thais 10-2

RP bounces back with 10-2 rout of Thais in water polo
By TJ Jurado

Games Today
4 p.m.-- Indonesia vs Malaysia
5:15 p.m.-- Philippines vs Vietnam
6:30 p.m. -- Thailand vs Singapore
STANDINGS
Singapore 3-0, Malaysia 2-1, Philippines 2-1, Thailand 1-2, Vietnam 1-2, Indonesia 0-3.

The Philippines bounced back from its heartbreaking loss to Singapore with a 10-2 rout of Thailand Wednesday to keep its gold medal hope alive in water polo action in the 23rd SEA Games.

Roy Canete and Monsuito Pelenio combined for seven goals, while goalie Allan Payawal stonewalled the Thai offense to power the Filipinos to their second win in three games.

“This is a huge victory for us. It boosted the morale of the team following our loss to Singapore yesterday. Let's just hope that our team continues to play well,” said Philippine amateur swimming Association president Mark Joseph.

Sizing up each other, both teams went scoreless after the first quarter. Pelenio then scored with only a minute gone in the second canto to ignite a 4-0 run, and the Philippines never looked back.

In other matches, defending champion Singapore romped to its third straight victory with a 16-7 thumping of Indonesia, while Malaysia outlasted Vietnam, 8-7.

It was the Malaysians' second straight win following an opening day loss to Singapore. Vietnam failed to sustain the momentum it got from its 13-12 squeaker over Indonesia the other day, and dropped its slate to 1-2.

FINA water polo delegate Khosromi Amiv said with a little more exposure the Filipinos could give Singapore a run for the gold medal.

“They could have had the gold for sure against Singapore,” he said referring to the 6-7 defeat of the Filipinos against the Singaporeans.

The win put the hosts back in contention notwithstanding their 6-7 defeat at the hands of the Singaporeans who only need to win their final two assignments against the Thais Thursday and the Vietnamese Friday to complete a sweep and retain the title they won in Vietnam two years ago.





to bad there is no semis in water polo... the team with most wins will win the gold in a single round robin format..
so we have to pray that singapore will loss to have a shot at the gold...

In what channel(in the phils) can I watch the games?

wish i could............

I wonder hoe you look like

ABC 5

Start watching the live event at around 5:30 pm in NBN channel 4, ABC Channel 5, and channel 13.